Turnbuckle wrench



Nov. 20, 1945. J. H. DYE 2,389,248

TURNBUCKLE WRENCH Filed Aug. 3, 1943 Patented Nov. 20, 1945 UNIT ED STATES OFFlC E TURNBUCKLE WRENCH:

James HerbertDye, Bainbridge; Ga'. ApplicationAugust 3, 1943 Serial No. 497,211

2 Claims.

This invention relates to wrenches and more particularly to a turnbuckle wrench.

An object of this invention is to provide a tool which is particularly designed for working on airplanes in confined places which is adapted to straddle a turnbuckle to hold the threaded bolts against turning so that one hand may be used to hold the two bolts against turning while the other hand may be used to tighten or loosen the turnbuckle. In practice, a very small opening is provided in airplane wings or bodies through which access may be had to certain turnbuckles which are connected to cables and it is almost impossible to extend both hands through the opening, hold the aligned bolts against turning and at the same time adjust the turnbuckle. However, with a tool constructed according to this invention the handle may be made long enough to project through the opening, the working end of the tool firmly holding the bolts against turning, and permitting the extension of only one hand through the opening for adjusting the turnbuckle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool of this kind which is simple in construction and will greatly facilitate the performance of the work for which the tool has been constructed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a turnbuckle wrench constructed according to an embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation of the tool; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing the numeral I designates generally a handle which, in the present instance, is constructed out of a single piece of relatively stifi wire, being formed of outwardly convergent sides I I and parallel forward portions l2 which are welded or otherwise secured together, as indicated at I3. The forward ends of the parallel extensions |2 have formed integral therewith oppositely extending right angularly disposed branches Hi and I5, and the outer ends of the branches l4 and I5 have formed integral therewith right angularly disposed extensions t6 and ll. The extensions Hi and I! are of arcuate configuration and the extension l6 has secured thereto a nut engaging socket H; which is open as at IS. The extension has secured thereto a nut engaging socket which is similar in every detail to the socket I8 and preferably the sockets I8 and 20 are not only in alinement but open on an acute angle with respect to the length of the handle It, as shown in Figure 2.

In an airplane construction the cables which are used; fonvariousrmovable elements, such as t-hezailerons,rudder andelevatorsare held intaut'.

condition by means of one or more turnbuckles and at least certain of these turnbuckles are positioned to normally be disposed within the area of a relatively small opening which is covered by a removable plate, the opening being either in a wing or other closed part of the airplane. In order to adjust the turnbuckle it is necessary for the workman to hold the threaded bolts at each end of the turnbuckle against turning and then rotate the turnbuckle. As the hands of the workman have to be extended through the small opening which is frequently too small for two hands to be extended therethrough, it is a difiicult operation to accurately adjust the turnbuckle to either tighten or loosen the desired cable.

The tool herein described is of such construction that the two sockets l8 and 20 may be extended through the small opening and the handle it is of sufficient length so that it will project outwardly of the opening and may be held by the hand exteriorly of the opening. As shown in Figure 1, the socket members l8 and 20 are adapted. to be engaged with the nut bodies 2| and. 22, which are carried by reversely threaded bolts 23 and 25 respectively. The bolts 23 and 24 are fixed in any suitable manner to the adjacent ends of cables 25 and 26 and a turnbuckle 21, which is formed with oppositely threaded bosses 28 and 29 is adapted to be threaded onto the bolts 23 and 24. The nut portions 2| and 22 of the bolts 23 and 24 respectively may be square in transverse section, or may be of any other suitable configuration, and it will, of course, be understood that the sockets H3 and 20 are of a configuration similar to the configuration of the nuts 2| and 22.

In the use and operation of this tool, the sockets I8 and 20, together with the arms l4 and I5, are extended through the small opening, and then engaged with the nuts 2| and 22. The handle l0, preferably projects outwardly of the opening so that it may be grasped by one hand of the workman. The other hand of 'the workman may then be extended through the opening and engaged with the turnbuckle 21 which may be turned to either tighten or loosen the cables 25 and 26. This tool is of exceedingly simple construction and will greatly facilitate the adjustment of various cables which are adjusted in confined places and provides a means whereby the end of one cable will be held against rotation with respect to the adjacent end of the connected cable so that the cable will not twist and the workman can be assured that any adjustment of the turnbuckle will effect a similar adjustment of the connecting cables.

At the present time, while the workman can apply a wrench to one of the nuts carried by the turnbuckle bolts, the nut on the other turnbuckle bolt cannot be held against rotation so that it frequently happens that turning of the turnbuckle by the other hand of the workman will twist the unsecured cable and during the opera tion of the plane this torsional strain on the cable will have a tendency to rotate the turnbuckle and throw the cables out of their proper adjustment.

With a tool constructed according to this invention the two cable ends are not subjected to any torsional strain so that adjustment of the turnbuckle will not put any torsional strain on the cables and the adjustment of the turnbuckle out of a single length of stiff Wire bent upon it-.

self to form a, loop, the said loop having outwardly convergent sides and parallel forward portions, the said portions being secured together, integral oppositely extending right angularly disposed branches extending from said parallel forward portions, integrally formed right angularly disposed extensions of arcuate configuration extending from the ends of said branches, and nut engaging sockets secured to the said arcuate extensions.

JAMES HERBERT DYE. 

